COCKTAILS
Master Mixer
Coming soon to a pub or restaurant near you, Mr L’s Cocktails by PAUL LAMBERT are causing a stir
P
aul Lambert might be best known for Piglet Wine Bar or Shaker & Vine, but he’s probably just as well known for his triumph at the Dekuyper Cocktail World Cup (he placed third in the world) or for getting a handshake from Pierce Brosnan (the then James Bond) for his martini making skills. Now, he’s about to introduce his mixing abilities to a whole new audience thanks to Mr L’s Cocktails, his newly launched range of pre-mixed bottled cocktails. So far the range, which has been created in association with Cult Drinks, consists of four flavours – Pina Colada, 1930’s Cosmo, Whiskey Sour and Pornstar Martini. An Espresso Martini variant is currently in the works and once that’s launched, the plan is to introduce more complex, signature pre-mixes that better reflect the drinks Paul is known for. Located in Swords, Shaker & Vine began selling takeaway drinks during Covid. Paul’s ready-made cocktails were an instant hit. “Eunan Ryan from Cult Drinks, who’s a regular at the restaurant, asked me one evening how they were going and I jokingly replied that they were going so well, maybe I should start selling them in the shops. He rang me the next day and
said, I think you should do it. So we sat down and mapped it out and from the start, he was adamant that my name should be front and centre on the bottle. Over the years, I’ve worked in places where there's always been a few Paul’s and we would always be known by our surnames. That’s where the name Mr L came from,” said Paul. Although the range was initially created for the off trade, a lack of labour and skills has made the range a hit with pubs and restaurants. “It’s something I was starting to notice in Shaker, it’s so hard to get skilled staff right now. Personally, I prefer to take in somebody that’s green and train them to a high standard but that approach doesn’t work everywhere, particularly large, bigger places. Mr L’s Cocktails ticks all the boxes – you don’t need to worry about the quality of the drinks, it’s always going to be good.” Creating the perfect cocktail is as simple as following the instructions on the back of the bottle. “We’ve had hotel porters make them who are delighted they’ve got something new to offer guests at night.” In an increasingly populated pre-mixed cocktail market, Mr L’s is the only one endorsed by a bartender. And not just any bartender. Paul’s reputation as one of Ireland’s top mixologists is well established; he was credited with making the finest gin martini in the world at the Bacardi Martini Grand Prix, he placed third at the IBA European Championships and he has established some of the most popular cocktails bars in Dublin including Diep, SABA, Kinara Kitchen and the Blind Pig Speakeasy. What makes the range stand out is also the quality of the liquid, says Paul. “These are my cocktails in a bottle and I stand over them as much as any cocktail I’ve ever created. Obviously, we’ve used only the best quality ingredients and spirits. We've had blind tastings in Shaker and my staff have never been able to pick out Mr L's." Bookings are good at Shaker & Vine at the moment. Christmas bookings are coming in thick and fast and to accommodate numbers, additional tables have gone into the dining area. As with most hospitality businesses, finding staff is difficult. “I could do with one more chef, but I know places looking for 10 or 11 new staff members so I’m not doing too
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